Container with locked, releasable and rejectable parachute cover and locking, releasing and ejecting means therefor



Jan. 8, 1957 F. E. VONDERAHE 2,776,303 CONTAINER WITH LOCKED, RELEASABLE AND REJECTABLE PARACHUTE COVER AND LOCKING, RELEASING AND EJECTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 4, 1954 I 5 Sheets-Sheet l FRANCIS 'E. VONDERAHE,

' 'IN VEN TOR.

A 77'ORNEK F. E. VONDERAHE 2,776,808

RELEASABLE AND REJECTABLE PARACHUTE COVER AND LOCKING, RELEASING AND Jan. 8, 1957 CONTAINER WITH LOCKED,

EJECTING MEANS THEREFOR Fil ed May 4, 1954 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANCIS E. VONDERAHE,

INVEN TOR.

Jan. 8, 1957 F. E. VONDERAHE 2,776,808

CONTAINER WITH LOCKED, RELEASABLE AND REJEGTABLE PARACHUTE COVER AND LOCKING, RELEASING AND EJECTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 4, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FRANCIS E. VONDERA HE, INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY.

United States Patent CONTAINER WITH LOCKED, RELEASABLE AND REJECTABLE PARAQHUTE COVER AND LOCKING, RELEASING AND EJEC'T- ING MEANS THEREFUR Francis. E. Vonderahe, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Chenrold Company, Santa Monica, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 4, 1954, Serial N 0. 427,589

18 Claims. (Cl. 244-438) This invention relates to a container for dropping supplies from an airplane having a cap for holding the container parachute, which cap is locked in closed position until dropped from an airplane whereupon, by a pull-cord attached to the airplane, the cap is released and ejected from the container to free the parachute for opening. It relates more particularly to the mechanism for holding the parachute cap in locked position up to the time the container is dropped and the cap is released and ejected from the container and for so releasing and ejecting the cap.

In dropping supplies from an airplane a container is used having a parachute which opens when the container is dropped from the moving airplane to restrain the speed of fall. My invention provides a container of this type having a much more satisfactory arrangement for locking the cap in closed position up to the time it is dropped from the airplane and the cap is released and ejected to free the parachute for opening to lower the container slowly to the ground. The device of my invention has means not only for releasing the cap holding the parachute, but also for pushing it free of the container to assure the opening of the parachute at thetime the container is dropped.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention .to provide such a container with a parachute enclosure cap having a means for locking the cap in closed position until .the container is dropped, and means for releasing and ejecting the parachute enclosure cap when the container is dropped from the airplane.

It is another object of my invention to provide such container and means for locking the parachute enclosure cap in closed position before the container is dropped.

It is another object of my invention to provide such container and means for releasing the parachute enclosure cap when the. container is dropped.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such.

a container and means for ejecting the parachute enclosure cap from the container when the container is dropped,

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the description below.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention I provide means for holding such a cap on one end of such a container in parachute enclosing position from the time the cap is closed until the container is dropped and the pull-cord unloeks'the holding means, means for releasing or unlocking the cap holding means when the pull-cord is jerked taut upon dropping the container from the airplane, and means for ejecting or forcing the cap open from the container upon the pull of the pull-cord, to assure opening to free the parachute.

My invention will now be described by reference to one specific. embodiment thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a cylindrical container in accordance with my invention.

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary side'view partly in section showing the cap for enclosing the parachute closed and locked to the end of the container.

Fig. 3 is a sectional top view of the locking, releasing and ejecting mechanism of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing details of the cap ejecting mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view as seen substantially on lines 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 7 showing the ejecting mechanism in the position of ejecting the cap from the container.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown generally at 20 in Fig. 1 a container in accordance with my invention having a forward streamlined nose piece 22 and parachute enclosing cap 23 in the rear of the container which, in accordance with my invention, encloses the parachute, and, shown generally at 36, a means for locking this cap to the rear end of the container and means for releasing and ejecting this cap from the container when the container is dropped from an airplane.

When the container is carried by the airplane, it may conveniently be supported thereto by a plurality of hinged loops such as shown at 24 on the central section 21 of the container. With the parachute of the container enclosed within the cap 23, the cap is fitted to the end of the container and locked in position by the device 30 which device also, when the container is dropped from the airplane, through pull on cable 72, both releases the cap 23 and ejects it from the container to free the parachute for opening as the container falls to the ground.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the cylindrical end portions of the back end of the cylindrical container and the cylindrical front end 26 of the cap 23 are fit together by means of a ring member 27 which, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, is made as part of the cylindrical container. The end cylindrical portion 26 of the cap 23 which is made of relatively thin-walled material 25, such as metal or fiber glass reinforced plastic, is adapted to fit snugly onto the outer rim of ring member 27 as shown in Pig. 2, with the cylindrical end portion 26 thereof fitting on the rearwardly extending portion of ring 27. At one position on the circumference of 26 there is affixed to cap 23 a spring arm member 28, as by rivets '29. Spring arm 28 has at the end projecting toward the container an upwardly extending finger 31 of reduced width which extends upwardly and beyond the open end of 26 to cooperate with members affixed to the extreme back end of the container, as shown generally in Fig. 2. This finger 31 is engaged and depressed by the locking mechanism to be described in detail below.

Spaced slightly inwardly from the edge of the open end of cap 23is anaperture 32 in shell 25 through which projects a stud pin 33 fastened to spring arm 28 as shown. Spring arm 23 is so bent that when held down as shown in Fig. 2, it tends to spring and raise in the direction indicated by arrow 34 to remove stud pin 33 from the hole 32 as shown in Fig. 8. Stud pin 33, in addition to projecting through hole 32, also projects through aligned hole 36 in the ring 27 and preferably abuts therethrough a spring stop finger 37 fastened to the underside of shell 25, also by the rivets 29. This arrangement provides a means for locking the upper portion of cap 23 to the ring '27 which is in turn securely fastened to the container so that the cap 23 at this point is locked to. the rear end of the supply container.

Diametrically opposite stud pin 33 there is provided another stud pin 38 secured to the ring 27 as shown and extending through fitting hole 39 of the shell 25. This hole 39 is preferably reinforced by a strip of material 41 to strengthen the cap 25 where it engages pin 38. Thus it is seen that the stud pins 33 and 38 hold the cap 23 attached to the ring 27, and that cap 23 may be removed from the ring 27 by first removing stud pin 33, separating the cap from ring 27 adjacent stud 33, and then removing the cap from stud 38 to completely free the cap from the ring 27 and from the container.

A bulkhead 42 is provided to separate the compartment for supplies within the container from the compartment for the parachute within the parachute enclosure cap 23. The parachute (not shown on the drawing) is aflixed to harness rings 44 held by straps 43 which are secured to the central section 21 of the container as shown.

The parachute-cap locking, releasing and ejecting mechanism shown generally at 30 is mounted at the rear portion of the central section 21 of the container in cooperative relation with the finger 31. The parts of this mechanism are mounted on a base plate 47 which is secured to the central section 21 of the container as by bolts 49 and is arcuate in cross-section to conform to the cylindrical container. This mechanism has a cover 48 which is box-like in form and open at the bottom with a top wall 51, side walls 52 and outwardly extending flange 53. The cover 48 is hinged as at 54 at its side opposite the flange 53 to an angle member 56 secured along the corresponding edge of the base plate 47 as by a plurality of screws 58'. The forward end of the cover 48 has a hole 59 to allow free passage of pull cable 72.

Located at the right end of this mechanism particularly as shown in Fig. 3 and in cooperative relationship with finger 31 is a latching means shown generally at 61 comprising a latch bar 62 adapted to engage the top of finger 31 to press down and hold it in position as shown in Fig. 2. Bar is pivoted at one end by pin 63 in a bifurcated bracket 64 secured to base plate 47 by means of bolt 66 as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The opposite end of bar 62 has an aperture 67 for alignment with apertures 67' in a second bifurcated bracket 68 secured to base plate'47 by bolts 71. The apertures 67 in the bifurcated bracket 68 and the aperture 67 in the bar 62 are so arranged that latch pin 69 may be inserted through all three apertures when latching bar 62 is pressed down in locking position against finger 31 and against the upward tension of spring 28 with stud pin 33 in holes 32 and 36 to lock cap 23 to ring 27.

Extending forward from and attached to the latch pin 69 is a cable 72. Cable 72 is the cable which operates the unlocking, releasing and ejecting mechanism and extends out through the back end of this mechanism 30 through hole 59 in the back wall 52 of the housing 48 and is shown in Fig. 1 through an eye member 46 afiixed to the container 21. As the container drops from the airplane, cable 72 is pulled to operate the unlocking, releasing and ejecting mechanism. Several loops 73 of cable 72 are formed within the housing 48 of the mecha nism 30 so that latch pin 69 will not be pulled out of its locking position and the cap 23 will not be ejected until the container has fallen a sufiicient distance so that the parachute will open clear of the airplane.

Secured to the cable 72 by means of clip 74 spaced forward of the latch pin 69 is shorter length of cable 76, which extends rearwardly from clamp 74, about pulley 77, located adjacent the latching means 61 but within the housing 48, and from pulley 77 extends generally forward to clip 79 and to pulley 78 about which it is fastened by means of clamp 78'. Clip 79 holds cable 76 sufiiciently displaced from a straight line between pulley 78 and pulley 77 that, when cable 72 is pulled, cable 76 is pulled from under clip 79 as latch pin 69 is pulled from out the aligned holes 67' and 67 so that cable 76 does not exert a pull on pulley 78 until after latch pin 69 is removed from its locking position. Clip 79 also holds cable 76 sufficiently taut that the portion of cable 72 between clamp 74 and latch pin 69 will not be pulled out of locking position until a pull on cable 72 is strong enough to pull cable 76 free from clip 79.

Pulley 77 is rotatably mounted in fixed position between a narrow bridge bracket 81 (Fig. 4) and an elongated guide bracket 82 by means of a suitable pin 83. Pulley 78 is rotatably mounted on a suitable stud pin 84 which is fixed to an ejector slide member 86 which is enveloped by the guide bracket 82. Tension spring 88 is provided to hold pulley 78 and slide member 86 in forwardmost position. Spring 88 is attached at one end 87 to pin 84 and at the other end 89 to bracket 91 mounted forwardly on the base plate 47. Pin 84 extends through an elongated guide slot 96 of bracket 82 and is held in engagement with the forward end thereof by the tension of spring 88. The ejector slide member 86 has a rearwardly extending bevelled end 97, that is, the end which projects toward parachute cap 23, which in its forward position, terminates beneath, but not in contact with finger 31. Brackets 81 and 82 are fastened to the base plate 47 by flanges 92 and 93 respectively as by rivets 94-. Thus, upon a pull on cable 76 about rotatable pulley 77, cable 76 is pulled from under clip 79 and exerts a backward pull on pulley 78 against the tension of spring 88 and moves pulley 78, pin 84 and ejector slide 86 as a unit backward as shown by arrow 98 in Fig. 2 to a position as shown in Fig. 8 with bevelled end 97 projecting under finger 31 and against pin 33 to eject and separate parachute cap 23 from ring 27 sufficiently so that it also may fall free of stud pin 38 so that parachute cap 23 will be entirely free from the container to free the parachute and allow it to open as the container falls to the ground.

In order to further explain this embodiment of my invention a typical operation in use will be described. The parachute cap 23 is placed over the parachute by first fitting hole 38 over stud pin 39 and then fitting the circular end 26 of cap 23 into ring 27 so that apertures 32 and 36 are so aligned to receive stud pin 33. Spring 28 and finger 31 are then pressed down so that stud pin 33 fits in these two aligned holes and latch bar 64 is pressed down in holding position against finger 31 and latch pin 69 is inserted through the holes 67 and 67. Cable 76 is placed under clip 79 as shown in Fig. 3. As pointed out above, this provides a safety feature tending to avoid an accidental pulling of latch pin 69 from its locking position and assures that ejector slide bar 86 will not be moved until after latch pin 69 has freed latch bar 64 from finger 31. Cable 72 within the housing 48 is then formed into the loops 73 so that the paraa chute will not be opened until free of the airplane. The

container and the free end of cable 72 are then attached to the airplane in the customary manner.

When the airplane is in flight and it is desired to drop the container of supplies an operator actuates a usual dropping mechanism (not shown) to release the container from the airplane at the loops 24. As the container drops away from the airplane cable 72 is pulled taut so that it is pulled out through hole 59 pulling out loops 73, and then substantially simultaneously pulling out latch pin 69 from its locking position and pulling cable 76 from under clip 79 so that cable 76 is pulled down around pulley 77 moving pulley 78 and ejector slide 86 backward as shown by the arrow 98 in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 8 so that the bevelled end 97 moves under finger 31 against pin 33 ejecting and separating the parachute cap 23 from the upper portion of ring 27 a suflicient distance so that cap 23 falls free of stud pin 39. The parachute cap 23 then falls free from the container freeing the parachute to open for a safe descent of the container.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a relatively IAJ simple but very elfective arrangement for holding the cap locked in closed position from the time the parachute is enclosed between the cap and container until the time when the container is dropped from the airplane and the pull-cord jerks the unlocking or release mechanism and operates the cap ejecting mechanism for separating the cap from the end of the container to free the parachute.

The specific embodiments given above are for the purpose of illustrating my invention, and it will be readily understood that the invention includes other modifications within the scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:

1. In a container for dropping contents to the ground from an airplane by parachute in which the parachute attached to the container is enclosed in a cap on one end of said container which is separated from the container by a pull-cord extending from an airplane to the container upon dropping from the airplane to release the parachute held within the cap for dropping said container and contents to the ground, the improvement which comprises locking means cooperating with and carried by said container and said cap. for holding the cap locked in parachute-enclosing position on the end of said container from the time of enclosure until unlocked by a pull on the pull-cord, a pull-cord operatively connected .to said locking means so that said locking means is unlocked and said cap freed for ejection by pulling said pull-cord, and means carried by said container and moveable toward said cap for ejecting said cap from said container by pulling said pull-cord beyond. the extent required for unlocking said locking means.

2. In a container as defined in claim 1 in which said holding means comprises a first means carried by said cap for locking said cap in closed position adapted to spring into unlocking position when free and to be sprung into locking position locking said cap to said container, a second means carried by said container in cooperative relation with said first means for holding said first means sprung in locking position, and a third means for releasing said second means .to allow said first means to spring into said unlocking position.

3. In a container as defined in claim 2 in which said first means comprises a flat spring fixed to said cap and having one end extending from said cap over and bent upwardly with respect to the end portion of said con.- tainer, said spring carrying a downwardly extending stud adapted to fit into matching holes in the overlapping ends of said cap and said container when said cap is placed in closing position on the end of said container, and said spring at one end afiixed to said cap so as to be sprung above said holes with said stud removed therefrom and adapted to be sprung toward said cap and container so that said stud will fit into said matched holes to lock said cap to said container.

4. In a container for dropping contents to the ground from an airplane by parachute in which the parachute attached to the container is enclosed in a cap which is separated from the container by a pull-cord extending from an airplane to the container upon dropping from the airplane, the improvement which comprises means for holding the cap locked in parachute-enclosing position from the time of enclosure until unlocked by a pull on the pull-cord, means for unlocking said holding means by pulling said pull-cord, and means for ejecting said cap from said container by pulling said pull-cord, said holding means comprising a first means carried by said cap for locking said cap in closed position adapted to spring into unlocking position when free and to be sprung into locking position locking said cap to said container, a second means carried by said container in cooperative relation with said first means for holding said first means sprung in locking position, and a third means for releasing said second means to allow said first means to spring into said unlocking position, said first means comprising a flat spring fixed to said cap and having one end extending from said cap over and bent upwardly with respect to the end portion of said container, said spring carrying a downwardly extending stud adapted to fit into matching holes in the overlapping ends of said cap and said container when said cap is placed in closing position on theend of said container, and said. spring at one end aifixed to said cap so as to be sprung above said holes with said stud removed therefrom and adapted to be sprung toward-said cap and container so that said stud will fit into said matched holes to lock said cap to said container, and said second means comprising an arm pivotally fixed at one end on said container and adapted to be pressed down upon the free upturned end of said spring to spring it down to place said stud into said matching holes, the other end of'said arm having a hole adapted to be placed when so pressed down between two matching holes in two brackets on both sides of the end of said arm, and ,a pin for inserting through said three matching holes to lock said arm in the position holding said spring down with said stud lockingsaid cap to said container.

5. In a container as defined in claim 4 in which said third means comprises a cord connected with the pullcord and to said pin for removing said pin from its matching holes by pulling said pull-cord.

6. In a container as defined in claim 5 in which said ejecting means comprises an ejecting member movably mounted on said container adapted to move toward said cap when said cap is released and push said cap away from said container bypulling on said pull-cord.

7. In a container as defined in claim 6 in which said ejecting member is slidably mounted on said container and is so connected to said pull-cord that by pulling said pull-cord said ejecting memberis moved toward said cap and in contact therewith pushes said cap away from said container.

8. In a container as defined in claim 7 in which said pull-cord is aflixed to the end of said ejecting member furthest removed from saidcap and extends about a pulley mounted substantially above said ejecting member and near the other end thereof so that by pulling said pull-cord that portion of the cord extending between said pulley and the point where said pull-cord is afiixed to said end of said ejecting member is in substantially the line of movement of said ejecting member so that upon pulling said pull-cord said ejecting member is pulled toward said cap substantially along the line of its movement.

9. In acontainer as defined in claim 8 in which said pull-cord near its end has two branches, one extending to said'pin and the other extending about said pulley and fixed to said end of said ejector means, with said branches being of such relative lengths ,so that by pulling said pull-cord said pin is first removed from said three matched holes to unlock said cap from said container by the initial pull on said pull-cord and then by further pull on said pull-cord said ejector means is moved toward said cap to push it away and eject it from said container. i

10. In a container as defined in claim 9 in which said branch of said pull-cord extending between said pulley and the end of said ejector means is provided with a means for releasably holding said portion of pull-cord somewhat out of a straight line between said pulley and the point at which said cord is connected to the end of said ejector means to assure that said ejector means is not moved by the pull-cord until after said pin is pulled from said three matching holes.

11. In a container for dropping contents to the ground from an airplane by parachute in which the parachute attached to the container is enclosed in a cap which is separated from the container by a pull-cord extending from an airplane to the container upon dropping from the airplane, the improvement which comprises means for holding the cap locked in parachute-enclosing position from the time of enclosure until unlocked by a pull on the pull-cord comprising a first means carried by said cap for locking said cap in closed position adapted to spring into unlocking position when free and to be sprung into locking position locking said cap to said container, a second means carried by said container in cooperative relation with said first means for holding said first means sprung in locking position, and a third means for releasing said second means to allow said first means to spring into said unlocking position, and means for unlocking said holding means by pulling said pull-cord.

12. In a container for dropping contents to the ground from an airplane by parachute in which the parachute attached to the container is enclosed in a cap which is separated from the container by a pull-cord extending from an airplane to the container upon dropping from the airplane, the improvement which comprises means for holding the cap locked in parachute-enclosing position from the time of enclosure until unlocked by a pull on the pull-cord, and means for unlocking said holding means by pulling said pull-cord, said holding means comprising a first means carried by said cap for locking said cap in closed position adapted to spring into unlocking position when free and to be sprung into locking position locking said cap to said container, a second means carried by said container in cooperative relation with said first means for holding said first means sprung in locking position, and a third means for releasing said second means to allow said first means to spring into said unlocking position, said first means comprising a fiat spring fixed to said cap and having one end extending from said cap over and bent upwardly with respect to the end portion of said container, said spring carrying a downwardly extending stud adapted to fit into matching holes in the overlapping ends of said cap and said container when said cap is placed in closing position on the end of said container, and said spring at one end affixed to said cap so as to be sprung above said holes with said stud removed therefrom and adapted to be sprung toward said cap and container so that said stud will fit into said matched holes to lock said cap to said container.

13. In a container defined in claim 12 in which said second means comprises an arm pivotally fixed at one end on said container and adapted to be pressed down upon the free upturned end of said spring to spring it down to place said stud into said matching holes, the other end of said arm having a hole adapted to be placed when so pressed down between two matching holes in two brackets on both sides of the end of said arm, and a pin for inserting through said three matching holes to lock said arm in the position holding said spring down with said stud locking said cap to said container.

14. In a container as defined in claim 13 in which a pull-cord is connected to said pin so that said pin is removed from said matching holes by pulling 'said pullcord.

15. A device for locking a cap to a container in which the circumferential edge of the cap in closing position fits over and overlaps the circumferential edge of the container, comprising a stud fixed at one point on the edge of said container extending outwardly therefrom, a corresponding hole in the edge of said cap, said stud and hole so arranged that said hole is adapted to be placed over said stud as said cap is fitted onto said container in closing position with said stud projecting through said hole to hold said edges together at said point, matching holes in said edges substantially diametrically opposite said stud, a spring attached to said cap extending over said matching holes, said edges and over a portion of said container carrying a stud adapted to fit into said matching holes, said spring being sprung to hold said stud out from said holes but adapted to be pressed downward on the end extending over said container to position said stud into said matching holes to lock said cap to said container, and means on said container for holding said spring pressed down with said stud in said holes.

16. A device as defined in claim 15 in which said means on said container for holding said spring pressed down comprises a bar pivotally mounted to said container on one side of said spring adapted to be pressed down across the end of said spring with the other end of said bar fitting between two upright brackets on the other side thereof, matching holes in said brackets and said bar, a pin adapted to fit through said three matching holes tq hold said bar pressed down on the end of said spring t i hold said stud in said holes, and a pull-cord attached I said pin.

17. A device as defined in claim 16 having ejecting means adapted to be moved along the container toward said cap to contact said cap and eject it from said container, a pull-cord attached to said ejecting means at a point near the end thereof farthest from said cap, a pulley near the other end of said ejecting means about which said pull-cord passes so that by pulling on said pull-cord away from said cap said ejecting means is moved toward said cap to eject it from said container.

18. A device for ejecting a cap from a container in which the cap fits onto the end of the container comprising ejecting means adaptedto be moved along the container toward said cap to contact said cap and eject it from said container, a pull-cord attached to said ejecting means at a point near the end thereof farthest from said cap, a pulley near the other end of said ejecting 'means about which said pull-cord passes so that by pulling on said pull-cord away from said cap said ejecting means is moved toward said cap to eject it from said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,015,684 Judah Ian. 23, 1912 1,777,188 Wiley Sept. 30, 1930 2,382,442 Rich Aug. 14, 1945 2,448,254 Crowther Aug. 31, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 104,053 Australia May 24, 1938 734,695 France Aug. 8, 1932 

